JAMBOX portable speaker..Big sound from a small box

I own a Jawbone Era Bluetooth headset so I know the company knows how to manage good sound over Bluetooth..but I didn’t quite know what to expect when I took the little JAMBOX portable speaker out of the box. My first impression was that it is pretty heavy..347 grams (12oz)..for its size.. 151mm long, 40mm wide and 57mm high (6″x1.6″x2.25″)..small enough to fit in the palm of my hand. A stylish little box too..rubberized exterior with a stainless steel grill at the front..the JAMBOX comes in four colours..Black, Blue, Red and Grey. JAMBOX is powered by a pair of proprietary, highly sophisticated acoustic drivers, A single, ultra-small dome speaker together with an innovative moving-wall passive bass radiator and airtight enclosure to deliver serious sound with impressive highs and surprisingly thumping bass. A lot of boom comes out of this little box. limited volume underscores the fact this is a personal speaker..don’t plan to use it to liven up a big party. I have used it in the dining room and on my, patio and it worked great as an accompaniment to good food and wine. The JAMBOX is a pretty simple device..on the side there is a power and pairing switch, a 3.5″ jack for non Bluetooth devices and a mini-USB jack for charging and software updates (more on that later). On the top there are + and – volume buttons and a call button for when you are using it as a hands free speakerphone (Bluetooth only). Now to the software updates..the JAMBOX syncs to MyTALK, Jawbone’s industry-first online platform to download apps, software upgrades, and the latest features – including LiveAudio™, an immersive three-dimensional listening experience..a feature that blew me away..LiveAudio really does works. It brings a genuine and substantial improvement to the JAMBOX’s audio quality. Beyond the usual DSP magic involved in tricking the ear into hearing a wider stereo field, Jawbone also uses crosstalk cancellation filters to optimize the effect. If you don’t like the LiveAudio you can turn it off by pressing the two volume buttons..but, I don’t think you will want to turn it off once you hear what it does to your music..with one exception..I found some streaming music on 4G sounded better with the effect turned off. The JAWBONE is an impressive little portable speaker with great audio and a long 10 hour battery life..well worth the price of $199. Find it at Best Buy, Future Shop and Staples/Bureau en Gros.

Bob Benedetti

Former RCAF Fighter Pilot Bob worked for CTV Montreal as a Reporter, Producer and Executive producer for 35 years retiring in 2004. Bob started reporting on personal technology in 1995 at CTV and continues today at Home Technology Montreal